MLB League Championship Series Numbers Game

Ratings and viewership for the Major League Baseball League Championship Series dating back to 2002.

The 2011 LCS concluded over the weekend, as the Rangers and Cardinals both closed out their series in six games. Ratings declined by double-digits for both series.

In the American League, the Rangers/Tigers series averaged a 4.4 rating, down 20% from last year’s NLCS on the network (5.5). In the National League, Cardinals/Brewers averaged a mere 2.9 on TBS, down 43% from last year’s ALCS on the network (5.1), and the second-lowest rated LCS ever.

The numbers were certainly a far cry from previous years. It may seem like ancient history now, but the 2004 Red Sox/Yankees ALCS averaged a whopping 11.7 rating on FOX, up from a similarly massive 10.7 for the same matchup a year earlier.

Average Ratings For MLB League Championship Series since 2006

Game-by-Game LCS Ratings Dating Back to 2002
** Game 4 of 2011 ALCS was scheduled to begin at 4 PM ET, but did not start until shortly before 6:30 PM due to rain.
* Game aired as part of a split-national telecast.
^ Game 5 of 2004 NLCS did not air on FOX nationally until 11 PM ET due to extra innings in Game 5 of the ALCS.

2011

ALCS: RANGERS 4, TIGERS 2
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Sat., 10/8/11	8 PM	DET 2, TEX 3	1	TEX 1-0	FOX	3.5	5,770
Mon., 10/10/11	4 PM	DET 3, TEX 7	2	TEX 2-0	FOX	4.2	6,568
Tue., 10/11/11	8 PM	TEX 2, DET 5	3	TEX 2-1	FOX	5.3	8,395
Wed., 10/12/11	4 PM**	TEX 7, DET 3	4	TEX 3-1	FOX	5.2	8,370
Thu., 10/13/11	4 PM	TEX 5, DET 7	5	TEX 3-2	FOX	3.9	5,675
Sat., 10/15/11	8 PM	DET 5, TEX 15	6	TEX 4-2	FOX	4.6	7,702

NLCS: CARDINALS 4, BREWERS 2
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Sun., 10/9/11	4 PM	STL 6, MIL 9	1	MIL 1-0	TBS	2.1	3,350
Mon., 10/10/11	8 PM	STL 12, MIL 3	2	TIE 1-1	TBS	1.9	3,021
Wed., 10/12/11	8 PM	MIL 3, STL 4	3	STL 2-1	TBS	2.8	4,282
Thu., 10/13/11	8 PM	MIL 4, STL 2	4	TIE 2-2	TBS	3.7	5,650
Fri., 10/14/11	8 PM	MIL 1, STL 7	5	STL 3-2	TBS	3.4	5,461
Sun., 10/16/11	8 PM	STL 12, MIL 6	6	STL 4-2	TBS	3.6	5,938

2010

ALCS: RANGERS 4, YANKEES 2
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Fri., 10/15/10	8 PM	NYY 6, TEX 5	1	NYY 1-0	TBS	5.0	8,111
Sat., 10/16/10	4 PM	NYY 2, TEX 7	2	TIE 1-1	TBS	3.6	5,831
Mon., 10/18/10	8 PM	TEX 8, NYY 0	3	TEX 2-1	TBS	5.2	8,214
Tue., 10/19/10	8 PM	TEX 10, NYY 3	4	TEX 3-1	TBS	6.3	9,846
Wed., 10/20/10	4 PM	TEX 2, NYY 7	5	TEX 3-2	TBS	4.1	6,107
Fri., 10/22/10	8 PM	NYY 1, TEX 6	6	TEX 4-2	TBS	7.2	11,863

NLCS: GIANTS 4, PHILLIES 2
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Sat., 10/16/10	8 PM	SF 4, PHI 3	1	SF 1-0	FOX	4.2	7,126
Sun., 10/17/10	8 PM	SF 1, PHI 6	2	TIE 1-1	FOX	5.3	8,835
Tue., 10/19/10	4 PM	PHI 0, SF 3	3	SF 2-1	FOX	3.3	5,040
Wed., 10/20/10	8 PM	PHI 5, SF 6	4	SF 3-1	FOX	5.7	9,274
Thu., 10/21/10	8 PM	PHI 4, SF 2	5	SF 3-2	FOX	6.9	11,196
Sat., 10/22/10	8 PM	SF 3, PHI 2	6	SF 4-2	FOX	6.7	11,639

2009

ALCS: YANKEES 4, ANGELS 2
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Fri., 10/16/09	8 PM	LAA 1, NYY 4	1	NYY 1-0	FOX	5.2	8,439
Sat., 10/17/09	8 PM	LAA 3, NYY 4	2	NYY 2-0	FOX	5.8	9,379
Mon., 10/19/09	4 PM	NYY 4, LAA 5	3	NYY 2-1	FOX	4.8	7,247
Tue., 10/20/09	8 PM	NYY 10, LAA 1	4	NYY 3-1	FOX	6.7	10,303
Thu., 10/22/09	8 PM	NYY 6, LAA 7	5	NYY 3-2	FOX	7.6	11,851
Sun., 10/25/09	8 PM	LAA 2, NYY 5	6	NYY 4-2	FOX	9.3	15,481

NLCS: PHILLIES 4, DODGERS 1
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Thu., 10/15/09	8 PM	PHI 8, LAD 6	1	PHI 1-0	TBS	4.3	6,855
Fri., 10/16/09	4 PM	PHI 1, LAD 2	2	TIE 1-1	TBS	2.9	4,429
Sun., 10/18/09	8 PM	LAD 0, PHI 11	3	PHI 2-1	TBS	3.0	5,035
Mon., 10/19/09	8 PM	LAD 4, PHI 5	4	PHI 3-1	TBS	3.4	5,644
Wed., 10/21/09	8 PM	LAD 4, PHI 10	5	PHI 4-1	TBS	5.0	7,978

2008

ALCS: RAYS 4, RED SOX 3
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Fri., 10/10/08	8 PM	BOS 2, TB 0	1	BOS 1-0	TBS	4.1	6,689
Sat., 10/11/08	8 PM	BOS 8, TB 9	2	TIE 1-1	TBS	3.8	6,089
Mon., 10/13/08	4:30 PM	TB 9, BOS 1	3	TB 2-1	TBS	3.0	4,499
Tue., 10/14/08	8 PM	TB 13, BOS 4	4	TB 3-1	TBS	3.8	5,732
Thu., 10/16/08	8 PM	TB 7, BOS 8	5	TB 3-2	TBS	4.7	7,211
Sat., 10/17/08	8 PM	BOS 4, TB 2	6	TIE 3-3	TBS	5.4	8,928
Sun., 10/18/08	8 PM	BOS 1, TB 3	7	TB 4-3	TBS	7.9	13,357

NLCS: PHILLIES 4, DODGERS 1
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Thu., 10/9/08	8 PM	LAD 2, PHI 3	1	PHI 1-0	FOX	5.1	7,735
Fri., 10/10/08	4:30 PM	LAD 5, PHI 8	2	PHI 2-0	FOX	3.4	5,022
Sun., 10/12/08	8 PM	PHI 2, LAD 7	3	PHI 2-1	FOX	5.6	8,837
Mon., 10/13/08	8 PM	PHI 7, LAD 5	4	PHI 3-1	FOX	5.0	7,705
Wed., 10/15/08	8 PM	PHI 5, LAD 1	5	PHI 4-1	FOX	5.1	8,029

2007

ALCS: RED SOX 4, INDIANS 3
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Fri., 10/12/07	7 PM	CLE 3, BOS 10	1	BOS 1-0	FOX	4.8	7,425
Sat., 10/13/07	8 PM	CLE 13, BOS 6	2	TIE 1-1	FOX	5.8	8,789
Mon., 10/15/07	7 PM	BOS 2, CLE 4	3	CLE 2-1	FOX	6.7	9,907
Tue., 10/16/07	8 PM	BOS 3, CLE 7	4	CLE 3-1	FOX	8.2	12,367
Thu., 10/18/07	8 PM	BOS 7, CLE 1	5	CLE 3-2	FOX	8.5	13,101
Sat., 10/20/07	8 PM	CLE 2, BOS 12	6	TIE 3-3	FOX	6.8	11,153
Sun., 10/21/07	8 PM	CLE 2, BOS 11	7	BOS 4-3	FOX	11.7	19,154

NLCS: ROCKIES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 0
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Thu., 10/11/07	8:30 PM	COL 5, ARI 1	1	COL 1-0	TBS	3.6	5,286
Fri., 10/12/07	10 PM	COL 3, ARI 2	2	COL 2-0	TBS	2.2	3,323
Sun., 10/14/07	8:30 PM	ARI 1, COL 4	3	COL 3-0	TBS	3.2	5,158
Mon., 10/15/07	10 PM	ARI 4, COL 6	4	COL 4-0	TBS	2.5	3,803

2006

ALCS: TIGERS 4, ATHLETICS 0
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Tue., 10/10/06	8 PM	DET 5, OAK 1	1	DET 1-0	FOX	6.0	8,587
Wed., 10/11/06	8 PM	DET 8, OAK 5	2	DET 2-0	FOX	6.8	9,866
Fri., 10/13/06	4 PM	OAK 0, DET 3	3	DET 3-0	FOX	3.7	5,022
Sat., 10/14/06	4 PM	OAK 3, DET 6	4	DET 4-0	FOX	5.2	7,724

NLCS: CARDINALS 4, METS 3
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Thu., 10/12/06	8 PM	STL 0, NYM 2	1	NYM 1-0	FOX	6.0	8,509
Fri., 10/13/06	8 PM	STL 9, NYM 6	2	TIE 1-1	FOX	6.1	9,010
Sat., 10/14/06	8 PM	NYM 0, STL 5	3	STL 2-1	FOX	4.9	7,511
Sun., 10/15/06	8 PM	NYM 12, STL 5	4	TIE 2-2	FOX	5.8	8,571
Tue., 10/17/06	8 PM	NYM 2, STL 4	5	STL 3-2	FOX	7.5	11,123
Wed., 10/18/06	8 PM	STL 2, NYM 4	6	TIE 3-3	FOX	8.0	11,666
Thu., 10/19/06	8 PM	STL 3, NYM 1	7	STL 4-3	FOX	10.8	16,528

2005

ALCS: WHITE SOX 4, ANGELS 1
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Tue., 10/11/05	8 PM	LAA 3, CHW 2	1	LAA 1-0	FOX	7.7	11,479
Wed., 10/12/05	8 PM*	LAA 1, CHW 2	2	TIE 1-1	FOX	9.1	13,511
Fri., 10/14/05	8 PM	CHW 5, LAA 2	3	CHW 2-1	FOX	6.2	9,641
Sat., 10/15/05	8 PM	CHW 8, LAA 2	4	CHW 3-1	FOX	4.9	7,586
Sun., 10/16/05	8 PM	CHW 6, LAA 3	5	CHW 4-1	FOX	7.2	11,280

NLCS: ASTROS 4, CARDINALS 2
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Wed., 10/12/05	8 PM*	HOU 3, STL 5	1	STL 1-0	FOX	9.1	13,511
Thu., 10/13/05	8 PM	HOU 4, STL 1	2	TIE 1-1	FOX	6.7	9,906
Sat., 10/15/05	4 PM	STL 3, HOU 4	3	HOU 2-1	FOX	3.6	5,126
Sun., 10/16/05	4 PM	STL 1, HOU 2	4	HOU 3-1	FOX	6.3	9,777
Mon., 10/17/05	8 PM	STL 5, HOU 4	5	HOU 3-2	FOX	7.5	11,612
Wed., 10/19/05	8 PM	HOU 5, STL 1	6	HOU 4-2	FOX	9.4	14,121

2004

ALCS: RED SOX 4, YANKEES 3
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Tue., 10/12/04	8 PM	BOS 7, NYY 10	1	NYY 1-0	FOX	10.0	15,010
Wed., 10/13/04	8 PM*	BOS 1, NYY 3	2	NYY 2-0	FOX	10.1	15,226
Sat., 10/16/04	8 PM	NYY 19, BOS 8	3	NYY 3-0	FOX	7.8	12,468
Sun., 10/17/04	8 PM	NYY 4, BOS 6	4	NYY 3-1	FOX	9.5	14,821
Mon., 10/18/04	5 PM	NYY 4, BOS 5	5	NYY 3-2	FOX	11.3	17,798
Tue., 10/19/04	8 PM	BOS 4, NYY 2	6	TIE 3-3	FOX	15.6	25,088
Wed., 10/20/04	8 PM	BOS 10, NYY 3	7	BOS 4-3	FOX	19.4	31,460

NLCS: CARDINALS 4, ASTROS 3
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Wed., 10/13/04	8 PM*	HOU 7, STL 10	1	STL 1-0	FOX	10.1	15,226
Thu., 10/14/04	8 PM	HOU 4, STL 6	2	STL 2-0	FOX	5.9	8,471
Sat., 10/16/04	4 PM	STL 2, HOU 5	3	STL 2-1	FOX	5.2	7,479
Sun., 10/17/04	4 PM	STL 5, HOU 6	4	TIE 2-2	FOX	6.7	10,015
Mon., 10/18/04	8 PM^	STL 0, HOU 3	5	HOU 3-2	FOX	9.8	14,982
Wed., 10/20/04	4 PM	HOU 4, STL 6	6	TIE 3-3	FOX	7.0	10,255
Thu., 10/21/04	8 PM	HOU 2, STL 5	7	STL 4-3	FOX	13.0	19,808

2003

ALCS: YANKEES 4, RED SOX 3
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Wed., 10/8/03	8 PM*	BOS 5, NYY 2	1	BOS 1-0	FOX	12.0	18,433
Thu., 10/9/03	8 PM	BOS 2, NYY 6	2	TIE 1-1	FOX	8.7	13,154
Sat., 10/11/03	4 PM	NYY 4, BOS 3	3	NYY 2-1	FOX	7.7	11,902
Mon., 10/13/03	8 PM	NYY 2, BOS 3	4	TIE 2-2	FOX	11.6	17,495
Tue., 10/14/03	4 PM	NYY 4, BOS 2	5	NYY 3-2	FOX	7.1	10,110
Wed., 10/15/03	4 PM	BOS 9, NYY 6	6	TIE 3-3	FOX	9.4	13,931
Thu., 10/16/03	8 PM	BOS 5, NYY 6	7	NYY 4-3	FOX	17.1	27,485

NLCS: MARLINS 4, CUBS 3
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Tue., 10/7/03	8 PM	FLA 9, CHC 8	1	FLA 1-0	FOX	10.1	15,569
Wed., 10/8/03	8 PM*	FLA 3, CHC 12	2	TIE 1-1	FOX	12.0	18,433
Fri., 10/10/03	8 PM	CHC 5, FLA 4	3	CHC 2-1	FOX	9.3	14,291
Sat., 10/11/03	8 PM	CHC 8, FLA 3	4	CHC 3-1	FOX	7.3	11,343
Sun., 10/12/03	4 PM	CHC 0, FLA 4	5	CHC 3-2	FOX	8.5	12,637
Tue., 10/14/03	8 PM	FLA 8, CHC 3	6	TIE 3-3	FOX	12.6	19,357
Wed., 10/15/03	8 PM	FLA 9, CHC 6	7	FLA 4-3	FOX	16.9	26,505

2002

ALCS: ANGELS 4, TWINS 1
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Tue., 10/8/02	8 PM	ANA 1, MIN 2	1	MIN 1-0	FOX	7.3	10,872
Wed., 10/9/02	8 PM*	ANA 6, MIN 3	2	TIE 1-1	FOX	8.2	12,162
Fri., 10/11/02	8 PM	MIN 1, ANA 2	3	ANA 2-1	FOX	6.4	9,373
Sat., 10/12/02	8 PM	MIN 1, ANA 7	4	ANA 3-1	FOX	5.6	8,934
Sun., 10/13/02	4 PM	MIN 5, ANA 13	5	ANA 4-1	FOX	6.1	9,206

NLCS: GIANTS 4, CARDINALS 1
Date	Time	Game	#	Series	Net	U.S. Rating	Viewers (000)
Wed., 10/9/02	8 PM*	SF 9, STL 6	1	SF 1-0	FOX	8.2	12,162
Thu., 10/10/02	8 PM	SF 4, STL 1	2	SF 2-0	FOX	6.2	8,953
Sat., 10/12/02	4 PM	STL 5, SF 4	3	SF 2-1	FOX	4.6	6,740
Sun., 10/13/02	8 PM	STL 3, SF 4	4	SF 3-1	FOX	6.8	10,638
Mon., 10/14/02	8 PM	STL 1, SF 2	5	SF 4-1	FOX	6.9	10,314

ALCS: Rangers/Tigers Ends on Low Note

Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after winning baseball's World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

MLB Postseason viewership hurt by World Series, but still on the high side

by Jon Lewis

2 days ago

The MLB Postseason was among the most-watched in recent years, but a shorter and lesser-watched World Series knocked viewership...

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt watches his solo home run off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ian Seymour, right, leave the park during the 12th inning of Game 4 of baseball's World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

World Series viewership bounces back in final games

by Jon Lewis

4 days ago

After the bottom fell out in Game 3, World Series viewership rebounded in the final games. Tuesday's Brewers-Rays World...

Members of the Tampa Bay Rays watch during the seventh inning of Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

World Series rout nears viewership low on competitive night

by Jon Lewis

5 days ago

The World Series got off to a solid start and seems poised for a healthy finish, but in between...

Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Milwaukee, between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Brewers-Rays World Series audience opens not far off Dodgers-Jays

by Jon Lewis

6 days ago

Considering the matchup, viewership for Games 1 and 2 of the World Series held up about as well as...

SMW Podcast

Bomani Jones joins the pod, plus thoughts on Ernie Johnson's exit, World Series ratings and more

0:000:00

Nielsen has reprocessed the viewership for NBC’s four NFL games from Week 1-3 of the season. The Patriots-Seahawks Kickoff Game has been updated to 25.2 million, up from an originally-reported 25.1 million. The Week 1 Cowboys-Giants “Sunday Night Football” game has been updated to 25.82 million, up from 25.66 million. Colts-Chiefs the following week has been updated to 24.43 million, up from 24.29 million. Finally, Rams-Broncos in Week 3 has been updated to 20.96 million, up from 20.77 million.